huhu...as expected..no one is here

salam salji sejuk dr scotland.. azzah di scotland now... enjoying herself.. byep

This blog is meant 2 unite us..not for marks...so stay UNITED..

Hello friends...

I miss u....

Why is it cam dah xmeriah blog class kite ni..

It makes me think that .."let bygones be by bygones.."..Huhh!

mane bley gtu...

Kwan2..dah xjd IT savvy ker?dulu penuh article pasal IT...it makes me think that everyone do it for the sake of the subject...hmm..im sad..plz comment to disagree with my thoughts now..huk3..

My friends...marks is not evrthing..if u make something,strive to be the best..score great...n what does be the best, score great gets u?nothing...to those who think A is evrything..A is my aim...plz change the way u thnk..bcoz life is never always A...sometimes its F...

my mom say...niat is the most important thing in ur life...kalo niat nk dapat xcellent..what does excellent offer u back?so,niat lam hati tu mesti ILMU..ILMU itu jihad...kalu niat betul,dapat la pahalanya..perbetulkan niat kita dulu...baru la kito betul jalenyo....

kan3?sape agree?vote for mba blog...slamat belajar semua..ingat prbetulkn niat..btul3...hehe..love all of u!

In love?it is not enough to keep a marriage

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) – Living happily ever after needn't only be for fairy tales. Australian researchers have identified what it takes to keep a couple together, and it's a lot more than just being in love.

• A couple's age, previous relationships and even whether they smoke or not are factors that influence whether their marriage is going to last, according to a study by researchers from the Australian National University.
• The study, entitled "What's Love Got to Do With It," tracked nearly 2,500 couples -- married or living together -- from 2001 to 2007 to identify factors associated with those who remained together compared with those who divorced or separated.
• It found that a husband who is nine or more years older than his wife is twice as likely to get divorced, as are husbands who get married before they turn 25.

Azzah say:Hmmm..azzah personally feel that age is nothing to do with maturity and level of responsibility..those who think age is the key indicator is ortodocs..hua3

• Children also influence the longevity of a marriage or relationship, with one-fifth of couples who have kids before marriage -- either from a previous relationship or in the same relationship -- having separated compared to just nine percent of couples without children born before marriage.
• Women who want children much more than their partners are also more likely to get a divorce.

Azzah says: Anak itu anugerah..suami pun same..jd u should love ur husband as u love u kids..note that husband is the one that is no 1 once u married..once u married okei..bukn skrg...ni gak care boyfren lebih dr care pd mak bapak...ape daaa!

• A couple's parents also have a role to play in their own relationship, with the study showing some 16 percent of men and women whose parents ever separated or divorced experienced marital separation themselves compared to 10 percent for those whose parents did not separate.
• Also, partners who are on their second or third marriage are 90 percent more likely to separate than spouses who are both in their first marriage.
• Not surprisingly, money also plays a role, with up to 16 percent of respondents who indicated they were poor or where the husband -- not the wife -- was unemployed saying they had separated, compared with only nine percent of couples with healthy finances. And couples where one partner, and not the other, smokes are also more likely to have a relationship that ends in failure.

Azzah says: hope this not misunderstood...money is not the ultimate factors...selalunya,ikut pglaman org rmai,ore pmpuan yg gilo besi at last akn dapat suami yg xde besi...hua3..

• Factors found to not significantly affect separation risk included the number and age of children born to a married couple, the wife's employment status and the number of years the couple had been employed.
• The study was jointly written by Dr Rebecca Kippen and Professor Bruce Chapman from The Australian National University, and Dr Peng Yu from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Maklumat tentang Buku Teks Global Business Issues

Ini adalah maklumat lanjut tentang buku teks GBI

seorang dikenakan bayaran RM45 untuk satu buku.

sila bank in ke akaun bank Islam Faiz = 01032020194210

Lain-lain peringatan..

Daftar subjek bermula pada 16-06-2009

4 Hari 3 Malam Pakej Percutian Kinabalu

Mari bersama- sama bercuti ke KOTA KINABALU, SABAH pada  14 – 17 DISEMBER 2009 selama 4 Hari / 3 Malam.

TAWARAN HANYA BERJUMLAH RM850

Termasuk:       

- Tiket penerbangan pergi-balik( Air Asia )

- Airport Tax

- Penginapan   

- Makan & minum sepanjang program

- Lawatan dan Berjalan ke pulau2

- Mendaki Gunung Kinabalu

- Pengangkutan

PERCUTIAN MENARIK SAMBIL MEMBELI- BELAH DI SABAH.

PELBAGAI TEMPAT MENARIK UNTUK DILAWATI:-

BERMAIN DI PASIR PANTAI ,PULAU MANUKAN,SABAH

BERKELAH DI PULAU GAYANA, SABAH MEMBELI- BELAH KRISTAL DAN MUTIARA  DI PASAR FILIPHINA, SABAH MELAWAT TEMPAT- TEMPAT MENARIK HUTAN HUJAN KOTA KINABALU TAMAN NEGARA KOTA KINABALU MERASAI KESEJUKAN DI KUNDASANG, SABAH PORING HOT SPRINGS AKTIVITI LASAK BERAKIT DI SUNGAI PADAS, SABAH

BERMINAT? SILA HUBUNGI KAMI SEGERA-

Faiz Zaidani 017-7901390

zaizoutrucors@yahoo.com

sila klik ke http://zaizoutrucors.110mb.com/

hehe...i like motivation!

hellow frenz...i post somthing for u..hehe...and im just testing using bullets and numbering...am i good at it now?no?hmmmm...i think im quite good...hahha..im better IT savvy now..hua3!

These are a few quotations various people had written on procrastination to remind us on its danger.Everyone at ‘one time (for some, most of the time) in our lives procrastinate. We can’t start at anything right away until the last minute or we end up not doing it at all. We put things off for various reasons; because we don’t want to do them or because we have too many things to do at a given time.What actually is procrastination? Procrastination is the act or habit of putting off to a future time, delay, deferment or avoidance of an action or task to a later time. People procrastinate for three reasons:-

• A. Because they don’t want to do it,
• B. Because they do something else less important (e.g, doing errands instead of real important work)
• C. Because they are doing something more important (e.g, working/thinking on big/mega project, and putting off the less important work)

• Is procrastination a bad thing? That will depend on its consequences. If by procrastinating, you end up having job/work/decisions of much better quality than doing it right away, or you are the type C above, it may be a good thing. But if the consequences are negative and destructive, you need to do something about it.

• Consider these;- As a student, you put off completing your term paper until the last minute when your computer hang on you, the printer ran out of ink, or- As a parent you put off repairing your son’s/daughter’s motorcycle’s brake and your son/daughter meet with a nasty accident, or worst still- You put off praying until the last wee hour, God (Allah) decided to take you to see him before you have time to pray……… Do you still want to procrastinate? ..............

• WHY PEOPLE PROCRASTINATE?Some of the reasons why people procrastinate are:

• -o Poor time management due to uncertainty of priorities, goals and objectives or difficulty in doing the tasko
• Lack of interest towards the task because it is not relevant or meaningful to the persono
• Difficulty in concentrating because of personal problems or distracting environment (noisy, cluttered, unorganized)o
• Perfectionism. Feel that you can’t complete the task in a perfect way as you expectedo
• Fear and anxiety of failure or inability to complete the tasko
• Negative beliefs/lack of self confidenceo
• Fear of the unknown especially new realm or fieldo
• Personal problem so
• Finding the task boringo
• Inability to handle the task because of lack of training, skill or knowledge

• OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

• If you find that procrastination is hindering your progress in achieving your success in work or study, the following strategies may help you to deal with it:-
• 1) Identify the time and reasons you procrastinate
• 2) Create a productive environment, a place where you can work without disturbance. Also consider the time you are most productive
• 3) Challenge your myths/perfectionist idea: ‘In order to get work/task done you must have everything perfectly in order’ or ‘I must have everything perfectly in order’ or ‘I do my bet work under pressure’, etc., etc…..
• 4) Discipline yourself to use time wisely. Set your priorities
• 5) Break your task into small blocks/chunks, Example; study 1 hour, break 10 minutes, instead of 2- 3 hours straight study or when writing term/project paper, write the introduction, then ot her parts instead of trying to complete every part at one sitting
• 6) Change your attitude towards the task. Tell yourself that the task isn’t so bad or difficult or you can learn how while you are doing it
• 7) Ask for help. Get somebody to check on your progress in accomplishing your task. Find a friend to work alongside you. Form a task group (eg. Writing group). Get help to improve your ability/skills
• 8) Make yourself accountable, set a deadline for the task to be completed
• 9) Keep your work out, in full view to give you a reminder of the work that need to be done
• 10) Develop a more realistic understanding of time. Planned time in your mind will be different from practical/physical time
• 11) Set a time limit on how much time you will spend completing your taskGood luck in improving your procrastination!
• REFERENCE1)
• http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressprocrast.2)
• http://www.twu.edu/o-sl/counseling/selfhelp 0443)
• http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/procrastination.

Don’t Walk Away From Negative People, RUN!

• It is importance that you spot negative people as soon as possible so that you can take appropriate action. Negative people will try to undermine your optimism in any way they can. There will bore you with bad tiding gossip, continuing to tell you negative things in their lives when you already know more about them than you care to know. If you hang around them for to long, they will influence you to start seeing nothing but grim and gloomy world.
• Negative individuals think the whole world is against them. For some strange reason they want everyone else to experience the same thing. They are critics who know everything, or so they think. Negative people court others who will support them in their contention that the world is a lousy place. And once they know they can, they will stick to them like crazy glue to hair. Some of these people spend there entire lives making others miserable. They seem to be pleased with they effort for no justifiable reason.
• One of the most endearing traits of negative people is their willingness to do anything in their powers to bring positive people down to their depressing level. Misery doesn’t only love company; it demands it. These people have an endless supply of hard-luck story capable of bringing down even the most enthusiastic and energetic people. You can bet that one of these negative people wrote the graffito: “You can never be paranoid. Someone may plot to make you happy.”
• Nothing irks negative and unmotivated people more than individuals who are positive and successful. You may think that you can convince negative people to be remarkable positive like you. Reality says you probably won’t win many converts irrespective of how much effort you put into it. Accept that some people prefer to look the world from a perversely distorted point of view.
• If you are good Samaritan who like to take on one or two screwed up people as a personal project, I must warn you about futility of this venture. Unless you can get these people to have personality transplants, all your effort will be in vain. Even if their happiness and survival are at stake, most negative people won’t change their nature. In his book, One, Richard Bach wrote: “No one can solve problems for someone whose problem is that they don’t want problems solved.”
• Negative people will intrude into your life every chance they get. You have to be able to stop them before they get started. Otherwise, they will claim you owe them some of your time, they will claim you owe them favor, and some will even claim you owe them a living. To eliminate the boredom and frustration that comes with being with negative people, you must take responsibility. The best strategy is to avoid people who bring out the worst in you. Try to direct them in one direction while you head off in the opposite one. If you somehow find yourself in the company of someone who regularly drains your energy, it’s not wise to stick around. Look for any means of rapid escape. Don’t walk away from negative people. RUN!

WWF: Egg=Life Campaign

Pledge Your Support !!! Help Turtles in trouble- Sign Up and be a conservation hero! "Turtles play a critical role in keeping marine ecosystems healthy; the same ecosystems which sustain our fisheries and tourism industries that provide food and livelihoods for millions of people. Marine turtles are threatened with extinction due to various factors, including: the practice of consuming turtle eggs, marine and nesting beach pollution as well as illegal trade of turtles and their parts. Leatherback turtles have already been declared functionally extinct in Malaysia. In the 1950s, there were 10,000 leatherback nests in Rantau Abang each year; now there are less than 10. Moreover, turtle protection laws are inadequate. Please sign up and help save turtles!"

astalavista...& tq semua!

i believe this blog is the medium for all of us to connect each other..to share our loves..to make sure tht we have continous medium to stay connected...even if we are separeted, this blog will unite us..so thank u to our lecturer Puan Mardziah, to come out with this briliant idea..exposing us and get us connected...i think i enjoyed very much MIS class and i think if i were to be a lecturer i will make differences like she did...gives impact to others and eventually everybody get something which is call "learning"...so, thank you.. thank to my friends too...i love u.!always...love urself n dont forget to love others...let us forgive and forget...and start with a new happy beginning next semester... tata..astalavista...everybody...daaaaa

New Windows Mobile phone by Samsung

Samsung Omnia

There seems to be a lot going on in the Windows Mobile world at the moment and we are finding ourselves inundated with great new devices to play with. This one is no exception, the Samsung i900 Omnia is a fantastic looking Windows Mobile Professional device but does it live up to all the hype and the tag of potential iPhone killer. Well first off it looks like the iPhone, it has a very similar form factor but is slightly smaller The phone looks as we have previously said like the iPhone, it is the same form factor with a large 3.2 inch screen, it is a very glossy looking phone and feels great in the hand, it really is a nice size and weight. Looking at it face on, there are three visible buttons, the phone send and end keys along with the now infamous Samsung mouse. For those that haven’t seen this before it is very similar to a laptop track pad, it is not a D-Pad, you stroke it with your thumb and an on screen cursor moves just like a mouse. It is the equivalent of Windows Mobile Marmite, you either love it or you hate it. I personally find it very effective and easy to use but if you do not, you can change the settings to a virtual D-Pad. What i want to say here is If you're thinking of buying the iPhone, i prefer to recommend this phone than iPhone.

The Business Card

No advertising or networking method is more powerful and cost effective for the burdgeoning small business owner than  the business card.  

It’s a great ice breaker and conduit for face-to-face conversations about your business to potential customers. It’s an extremely portable advertisement for your business that people can take with them and keep in their wallets/purses.  Nothing is more basic than the business card, providing the most important information about your business and nothing more.  Finally, there’s no denying that it’s much cheaper than an ad in your local paper or phone book, saving you money in those critically cash-strapped first years of business.

So it goes without saying that the first thing any new small business owner should do is get some business cards made.  And that’s exactly what I’ve done.

However, before I could send my order to the printers, I needed to completed a few start-up steps so I’d have something to adorn the face of my card.  Namely a business name, website url, logo, and phone number. Now that those things are complete, I can proudly display all of that on my business card.  After all, this will be my primary advertising method for the next year or so as I try to build a small, part-time client list.

I’d like to share with you some of the things I took into consideration when designing my business card.  The most important thing to take from all this is that your card will be an extension of your business philosophy and image, so make sure to do them justice.

Information

First and foremost, you need to figure out what information to put on your business card.  This is a balancing act.  Although you want to tell your potential customers as much as you can about your business, you also don’t want to clutter the card with too much information.

First and foremost you should list all the ways that customers can contact you.  I think it’s a mistake to list only your phone number or only your email address, list both.  I personally don’t understand why people still list their fax number.  Does anyone fax anymore?  Finally, it’s probably a good idea to throw in your website URL, that’s where people can go if they’re interested in finding out more information than the card provides.

Next, you want to include your name.  This personalizes the card and gives the card that human element.  It makes the receiver feel “special”, like they are receiving a personal invitation from you to contact your business.  This is what separates the business card from traditional ads.

Of course, don’t forget your business name and logo.  These keep your company brand in the minds of your potential customers, helping them remember your business.

So far all of these things are pretty obvious.  What about extra information like a run-down of your services, the area you service, your motto, your specials, etc? Well, this is all purely optional and it’s up to you if you feel you’ll need to include any of this stuff.  My advice, and this is what I tried to follow with my own card, is to keep things short and simple.  Give just enough information so people know what you’re about and then they can refer to your website for specifics.  Nothing is worse than a cluttered business card.

Layout

By layout, I’m not only thinking about on what part of the card you put certain information, but also what colors and font you use.  This is a matter of personal preference and there are an infinite number of possible ways to lay out your card.  But here are some personal guidelines I tried to follow:

1. White Space is OK- Don’t feel like you have to fill every square inch of the card with info.  Cluttered cards not only look bad, but it’s hard for your customer to find the information they need.
2. Keep Things Consistent - Try to stick to two or three colors and fonts on the card.  If everything is the same color, that’s boring.  The opposite is if you make every line of text a different color and font which will begin to look unorganized and chaotic.
3. Consolidate Similar Info-  It’s probably a good idea to keep all your contact info together on the card.  If your website is in one corner, email in a another, and phone in yet another, your customer might miss the info they’re looking for and move on to the next card in their stack.

Appearance

Finally, there’s the overall appearance.  These are some questions you’ll probably want to ask yourself before ordering your cards.

Glossy or matte?- This is a matter of preference, but I personally prefer matte finish for two reasons: 1) I like being able to write extra info on a business card if I need to and it’s much easier to write on a matte finished card.  2) Glossy finish just looks less professional to me for some reason.  But you may find you like glossy finish better.  It certainly makes the colors pop out a little more if that’s your goal.  Take a look at some business cards that you’ve received in the past and see which finish you prefer.

White Background? - My personal preference on this one is to keep the card white.  Again, I think it’s not only more professional looking, but it allows your logo and text pop out and be the focus of attention.

Flare? - Some printing companies offer options such as foil printing and raised lettering.  I think options are nice if you can afford them.  But don’t break the bank on such things that probably don’t make a huge difference in the long run.  Concentrate more on making the things that cost the least look the best.  And keep in mind that even with these fancy features, moderation is important.  Unless, of course, you’re promoting a night club in which case the more glitter the better!

Info on the back? - Most printing companies also allow you to have something printed on the back of the card for an extra fee.  This is a perfect opportunity to add a little extra something that you couldn’t put on the front face of the card.  You can include a complete list of your services, client testimonials and media quotes, or include a coupon or discount for people who present the card to you during service, which is the route I’ve taken.

Traditional or funky? -Lets face it, business cards are boring.  Some people choose to take the business card to the next level by breaking the mold and offering alternatives to the rectangular peice of card stock we’ve all come to know.  Here are some of the more creative examples I’ve encountered on the web:

http://www.quicksprout.com/2008/09/20/creative-business-cards-that-make-you-look-twice/

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/50-awesome-and-creative-business-cards/

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/01/22/30-memorable-and-creative-business-cards/

Now, while these business cards may be awesome to look at, and no doubt memorable, I wouldn’t use them for my business.  First of all, I normally put business cards in my wallet when I receive them.  If the card is oddly shaped or too bulky, it may end up in my pocket and eventually lost.  Secondly, the cost to benefit ratio for these cards is very questionable.  Yeah, you may gain the attention of a few more people, but are they going to translate into new customers? And are those new customers going to make up the difference in the amount of money you spent to have these custom cards created?  Maybe.  But I’d rather rely on my good service and personable approach to gain new customers at first…both are free.

Show us the Money!

Gmail now knows who you want to e-mail!

Gmail can now figure out if you're trying to start up another conversation thread with people you've recently been talking to, saving you some time on starting a new message thread, or simply using a reply all on an old one. (Credit: Google)

Google's Gmail Labshas just rolled out a useful, but mildly creepy feature that gives you suggestions on who you should e-mail based on previous conversations. So, if you've had threads going with a group of people, it will recommend some of those folks once you've added at least two addresses in the recipients field. Best part is, they don't even have to be in a group of contacts you've created in Gmail's contacts manager. I got this to work to an almost uncanny level. It handles things like family members without a hitch, but where it gets useful is in pulling up people you've recently been corresponding with and giving you a one-click link that adds them to the message. Short of organizing these people to a group (in which you may need to add or delete someone on a per-message basis), or doing a reply-all on an old message, this is a really fast way to get another thread started with the same group. Now all Gmail needs is a quick way to take these contacts and add them to a sending group without leaving the message, something that can only be done in Gmail's contact manager.

How to keep fit?

Instructions Step1: We should keep a balanced diet and that is to say, we should not have too much intake of animal fat, but more vegetables and fruits. Step2: If one wants to keep fit, he must give up the habits that damage his health. Eg, quit smoking, drinking too much wine, staying up late... Step3: Regular physical exercise is essential for a healthy mind and body.In the morning, you can get up early, go outdoors, breathe the fresh air, and do physical exercises. Running and swimming are extremely helpful to keep one fit. If you are a busy person and have no special time allocated to do these things, there are still some ways useful for to keep fit. The easiest way is to walk to your office instead of riding a bike or taking a bus. Step4: You also have to take a routine physical check-up. Your doctor will know the condition of your body most clearly, and he will give you the most valuable advice to keep fit. You should always try to make yourself happy. If you feel happy, you can eat well, sleep well, and your body is sure to be in an excellent condition.

Blogger simplifies posting via SMS and e-mail

Last month Google released a less complicated way of linking up your phone with one or more of your Blogger blogs as part of its Blogger in Draft program. It put the settings to post to a specific blog through your phone or e-mail next to each blog's title inside of the dashboard using small and simple icons. And as of today the change is now live to everyone.

The most important part of this seemingly minor update is that it takes two sets of settings that were previously tucked away and puts them front and center. Posting via SMS or MMS message can be set up in about 30 seconds if you have your phone handy, and you don't even have to leave the dashboard to do it. The same goes for creating a special e-mail address to post to each blog--something which was also, previously hidden away from non-savvy users.

While sending a post to Blogger through your phone is nothing new, Google clearly wants to make the process a little easier. Putting the icons and setup tools right there in front of you is a good start. The one big caveat that remains is that posting through SMS still only works in the US, so if you're a Blogger user from another country you're stuck having to use your phone's e-mail app--meaning you need a data plan.

There's also the continuing matter of a lack of an official, native Blogger application for mobile phones. WordPress and MovableType have had free mobile applications out for some time now--including some snazzy ones for the iPhone. These make it simple to work on and post entries locally, as well as edit and moderate posts while on the go. SMS and e-mail are nice, but at this point in the game a dedicated application would be a nice touch. Those with an iPhone and who are willing to part with $3 can have it with this app called BlogPress which also posts to WordPress, TypePad, Live Journal and others.

Here's the original demo on how to post from your phone from last October:

5 Overlooked Characteristics Of A Successful Computer Consultant

Lets face it, there are a lot of “computer guys” out there.  It’s no secret that the IT industry is growing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  The demand is there and the money is good.

However, not every computer guy is created equal.  Just because you have a degree related to computers, you solve all your friend’s computer problems in less than 15 minutes, and you can hack into the pentagon, doesn’t mean you’re cut out to start your own computer repair business.

Since starting my business, many customers I service seem to be relieved when they realize that I’m not out to make a quick buck, and that I can speak to them about their computer in terms that they can understand and relate to.  Some have even related to me the pains they’ve experienced at the hands of some other computer guys that they’ve worked with in the past.  Couple these experiences with the fact that, through interviews on this website and other encounters with successful computer techs, I’ve noticed that there are some characteristics that make certain independent computer consultants really stand out among the competition.

There are many obvious traits that one must posses in order to be a successful independent computer consultant.  You must have people skills, business savvy, and broad technical knowledge.  But that’s just the beginning.

Be a Teacher - It’s one thing to show up at a customer’s home, fix their computer problem, collect your check, and take off.  It’s another level entirely when you take a moment to explain to them what went wrong and how they can prevent it in the future.   Most service calls you make should be accompanied by some form of training for the user.   This will help instill a sense of trust with your customers, not only will they feel like you truly have their best interest at heart, but they’ll be excited about the extra bonus they’re getting with their service.

Don’t pass up opportunities to teach your customer how to do different things with their computer.  Make it free of charge at first.  Then, when you feel you’re comfortable in the role of trainer, start offering classes in things like how to use the latest version of windows, or how to back up data.

Have The Patience of a Saint -  Computers are frustrating pieces of machinery.  Add frustrated customers who wouldn’t know a a right-click from a hole-in-the-wall, multiply by the amount of technical knowledge you posses, and you have the formula for a bitter and jaded computer tech.  You’re going to see the same problems over and over again, from the same customers over and over again, and it’s going to wear you down.

It’s important to keep perspective on things when you’re in the trenches.  You’ve got to constantly tell yourself that if it weren’t for these issues, you wouldn’t be in business.  Always greet customers with a smile and always take the time to listen to what they have to say.  Don’t interrupt them or correct them.  Think about how you’re going to explain an issue and stop yourself when you feel like you’re getting too technical.  It’s little things like this that make a big impact on customers.

Many company IT guys don’t understand the importance of patience because their corporate customers have no choice but to turn to them when a computer issue arises.  Once the customer is given a choice, they’ll choose a tech that makes them feel comfortable and one that doesn’t talk down to them.  Learn to be that tech.

Never Stop Learning - The single most important trait for a computer technician to have is a desire to never stop learning.  I concur 100%.  The computer industry grows fast and furious and you’re going to need to constantly sharpen your skills as a tech in order to stay on top.

Many computer techs learn what they need to learn in school and then they seem to feel like they’ll be able to keep up with technology simply by tapping into their previous educational well.  That may help you sustain a competent level of troubleshooting ability, but you’ll soon see your businesses effectiveness dwindle.

I say keep learning.  Subscribe to industry forums and blogs.  Read the latest tech literature.  Re-certify yourself every few years.  Network with other technicians and take time to “talk shop”.  None of these are a silver bullet that will keep you ahead of the game.  They must all be a constant part of your life in order to ensure your continued effectiveness.

Learn To Take Time Off - This might seem like a no brainier.  In fact, the reason why many quit their job to start their own business is so that they can be afforded the freedom to take time off whenever they choose.  But in my experience,this is one of the most overlooked traits on the list.  When working for yourself, you don’t have the luxury of allotted vacation time or sick leave. It’s easy to get caught up in your work.  If you don’t plan properly, you’ll soon find that you can’t afford to take time off.  That time you’re away will be lost profit.

You have to make sure you save and plan for an expected, or unexpected, temporary hiatus.  In fact, I would argue that it’s necessary to take some time off every year to unwind and decompress.  I know a few independent computer consultants who have left the game because they got burned out.  Avoid burn out and stay in the game for the long haul by making yourself take time off.

Experiment Wisely - I see two types of people that don’t make it too far in computer consulting:  those who stubbornly stick to the same old methods of doing things, and those that experiment so wildly, they loose focus.  Since there is already a strong push towards experimentation in business these days, I’m going to stick with the other extreme.

Beware the trappings of over-experimentation.  This is when those super-driven highly motivated techs out there feel like they have to constantly try all of the latest trends in marketing and computer repair.  This is fine, to a certain extent.  When you never stick with what works, you miss out on the value of experimentation.  Wise experimentation means making sure you’re constantly gathering metrics when you try a new tactic to see if the methods you’re using are helping to improve your situation.  If so, great, keep them up.  If not, move on to the next one.  I’ve been surprised by how many people I’ve seen who just bounce from one thing to the next, never taking the time to focus and refine the things that work.

Many of your competitors are probably lacking these skills, but if you hone them, you’ll to gain an edge over those other computer guys in your neighborhood.  Concentrate on being a friendly neighborhood computer guy, not jut the typical jaded computer tech that everyone dreads, and you’ll be one step ahead of most of your competition.

Top 5 Podcasts for Computer Techs

A podcast, for those of you not in the “know”, is basically a digital radio show that can be streamed to your computer or downloaded onto any number of digital listening devices, including the ever popular iPod.  Podcasting is now more popular than ever thanks, in part, to two factors: 1) the popularity of the iPod and other portable digital listening devices and 2) the reduction in price of quality audio broadcasting equipment. 

This increased popularity means that there are a lot of podcasts sprouting up around the net.  These podcasts range in quality and produciton value from a kid with a cheap microphone in his parent’s basement to a nationally syndicated radio show.  

I’ve fallen in love with podcasts recently after buying a car (my silver lightning myvi)  This enables me to hear pertinent, relevant, interesting stuff on my 45 minute drive to and from work back before i got accepted t o UiTM.  Better than radio, podcasts allow me to choose WHAT I listen to and WHEN I listen to it.  Kinda like Tivo for audio broadcasting.

As a computer guy or gal, listening to tech-related podcasts regularly will help you keep up with the latest trends in computer consulting and the IT business in general.  You can listen at home or in your shop while working on a computer or in the car on your way to your service calls.  There are quite a few tech-centric podcasts out there.  This list provides you with the podcasts that I personally enjoy and in which I find the most value as a computer guy.

So here, in no particular order, are my top 5 podcast recommendations for computer techs:

Buzz Out Loud - This is a daily podcast  produced by the folks at CNET that provides news and commentary on the latest tech trends.  I like it’s combination of knowledgeable hosts and the laid-back friendly vibe.  Although they don’t get too heavy into technical stuff, they provide a breath of fresh geek air to start your morning.

PodNutz- A weekly (almost) computer repair podcast by Steve Cherubino.  He regularly interviews a wide variety of computer techs and business owners bringing good insights into how other techs approach their niche.

Small Business Trends Radio- Not a tech podcast per-se, but a very valuable tool for those of you who run your own business.  Being an independent computer consultant means being a small business owner, CEO, marketing guru, accountant (among other things) as well as an excellent computer tech.  This show will help you become better at those first four things.  Each week Anita Campbell and co-host Steve Rucinski interview a different small business owner/expert that shares their experiences and insights.

Windows Weekly - This podcast is a member of the TWiT.tvtech podcast network.  This network, founded by radio tech guy Leo Laporte, offers very professional broadcast-quality podcasts featuring mostly tech-related subjects.  Windows Weekly is one of my favorites, providing me all the juicy windows tidbits I need to satiate my Microsoft munchies in digestible weekly portions.

The Force Field- Brought to you by Rick Savoia, The Force Field podcast covers a wide variety of computer consulting topics with news, reviews, and interviews.  This one is part of the TechPodcasts.comnetwork, which is home to a smorgasbord of geek-friendly podcasts.

The Tech Guy- This is another offering from TwiT.tv, hosted by the man himself, Leo Laporte.  This is his XM radio show without the commercials.  Very entertaining and informative covering general tech.

Cyber Speak - Two former federal agents discuss computer forensics, cybercrime, and computer security.  Can be dry at times (since this is not my main area of focus), but stick with it, you’ll learn some interesting and useful stuff!

Many of these podcats also include forums, chat rooms, and live participation with the hosts.  So check them out and tell what you think to me....

How can your business online succeed?

How Can Your Online Business SucceedIf You Don’t Invest?I hear it all the time, “How can I start an online business with no money?” People everywhere are looking to start an online or home based business yet they want to do it without spending a cent. So, I ask them, “How can a farmer expect to harvest a crop if he doesn’t buy the seed?”You can talk about starting a business and making all kinds of money all you want, but until you realize that you have to invest in your business, it’s not a business, it’s just a hobby. That does not necessarily mean you have to take out a second loan on your home, but you do have to invest.Put yourself in the farmer’s boots for a moment.

You want to plant a cash crop and you know you can, so how do you go about getting started? First, you decide what crop you will plant. You do your homework to determine which crop will produce you the most return based on all the conditions. Once you make this decision, you have to take the next step. You have to take action. Before you get the seed, you must till the ground and prepare it for planting. This preparation is critical if you want a successful crop. Once the ground is ready to accept the seed, you go the seed store and “buy” your seed.

This is your investment.So can you just throw the seed on the ground and expect great results? No. You must then cultivate it in order to get the results you expect. You work the soil to keep it loose, you water and fertilize. Then and only then will the seed start growing, until it produces the crop you dreamed it would. Once your crop matures, you then can harvest its many fruits. You can see the results of your labor and your investment pays off.Your business, whether online or offline, is much like planting a crop. You decide which business is best for you by reading and studying everything you can on the subject. Once you make that decision, you have to prepare. Get your website ready, everything must be in place. Then you plant or go live with your site. You have to promote and invest your time and money into the business. You keep at it, learning more as you go and one day you walk out to see your crop, and it is time to harvest.

WordPress Complete: set up, customize, and market your blog  PUBLISHER : Packt Publishing | October 17, 2006 | 304 pages | ISBN : 1904811892| pdf | 6 mb

Wordpress is a simple and powerful way to start blogging. If you're not an IT expert but want to use a state of the art blogging system to give your blog the best chance of success, while giving you the time to focus on content and your readers, WordPress is the right system for you, and this book is the right place to start. It will give you a rapid and straightforward introduction to the rich and powerful features of WordPress and get you up and running with a state of the art blog as quickly and painlessly as possible. WordPress is an open source blog engine released under GNU general public license. It allows users to easily create dynamic blogs with great content and many outstanding features. It is an ideal tool for developing blogs and though it is chiefly used for blogging, it can also be used as a complete CMS with very little effort. Its versality and ease of use has attracted a large, enthusiastic, and helpful community of users.

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MIS website presentation (16th April) - BOOK NOW!

Hye ppl, plz book your turns of presenting websites this thursday. As usual, it's on a first-come-first-serve basis. Hurry! Book your place now! Comment to this post ASAP!

Turns already booked:-
1. Mohd. Izham
2. Nurul
3. Izzaura
4. Affazila
5. Adilah
6. Ekin
7. Fizi
8. Erin
9. Zila
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17. Lily